While the major news networks hem and haw over the "upcoming" Presidential election (a mere two years out), I would point out the great race of 07: The Nobel Peace Prize.

Created by inventor Alfred Nobel in his will in 1896 to be given to the individual or organization who "shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding of
peace congresses." The first Nobel Peace Prize was awarded in 1901 to Henry Dunant and Frederic Passy.

This year promises to be a banner year for the peace prize as both Rush Limbaugh and Al Gore have been nominated. Rush has been nominated for his "two decades of tireless efforts to promote liberty, equality and opportunity for all humankind, regardless of race, creed, economic stratum or national origin. These are the only real cornerstones of just and lasting peace throughout the world". Al was nominated for his movie, An Inconvenient Truth, about global warming and "making a difference".

I believe this underscores the waning respect this honor now garners. And has everyone forgotten that this is a PEACE prize? Aren’t their any more Mother Teresas in the world?

National Review Online has an interesting article on the impact of increasing the ethanol content in gasoline. The idea sounds good: increase the amount of corn-based ethanol in gasoline to reduce our dependance on foreign oil and help protect the environment. Unfortunatley in practice it does a lot more.

Increasing ethanol in US Gas has increased corn tortillas in Mexico 55% – bad for poor Mexicans. Increasing the cost of food for the poorest people in Mexico is creating political instability there. If trends continue, Mexico won’t be the only one experiencing higher food costs. Not only will the cost of everything made from corn increase, but food that is fed corn (think meat) will increase in price as well.

The worst part is that the government is considering mandating a 20% level of ethanol into gas by 2017. The problem is that America doesn’t have that much corn. If all the corn grown here was converted to ethanol instead of food, we would be at a 12% level. So our great plan is to trade dependance on oil for corn while increasing the cost of living and destabilizing Mexico. Great idea guys.

• Stick Ethanol in the Museum of Unintended Consequences